Platen matrix



Sept. 23, 1958 s. M. INNERFIELD 2,852,879

PLATEN MATRIX v Filed Aug. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

SYDNEY M. INNERFIELD IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent ()fifice 2,852,879 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 2,852,879 PLATEN MATRIX Sydney M. Innerfield, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,305 11 Claims. (Cl. 41-1) L This invention relates to a platen arrangement and more particularly to a platen arrangement adapted to be used for applying predetermined patterns and quantities of coating or similar material within predetermined areas wherein the location and disposition of the deposited material may be selectively determined.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of a press platen arrangement suitable for use in conjunction with an apparatus such as described in my Patent Number 2,591,941 entitled Multicolor Presses wherein a coating material such as an ink, paint, varnish, lacquer or an electrically conductive or resistive printed circuit material is deposited upon a supporting surface in a predetermined quantity and pattern in a simple and efiicient manner wherein the thickness, configuration and location of deposited material may be precisely controlled and changed in accordance with changing requirements as in the production of paint color cards or printed circuits. It is a further object of this invention to provide a press platen arrangement wherein a plurality of interchangeablematrix elements are provided and mounted upon a suitable press platen to permit changes to be made in the location, disposition, configuration and quantity of the material deposited thereby, in a simple, efiicient and economical manner. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide a press platen arrangement as heretofore indicated with means to accomplish the etficient and efiective separation of the base material upon which a deposition has been made from the platen contacting surface to thereby eliminate the possibility of smearing and to achieve a sharply demarked clean cut deposition of material thereon.

'Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description thereof contained in the annexed specifications or will otherwise become obvious. It will be understood that the invention herein disclosed may be employed for other purposes to which the structure and arrangement are adapted.

As shown in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a press bearing a platen arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the press platen showing the matrix elements mounted thereon.

Figure 4 is a cross section of Figure 3 taken along line 44 thereof and showing the relationship of said platen arrangement to the bed plate of the press together with a supporting surface upon which a deposit of material has been made.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the platen arrangement shown in contact with supporting sheet during the deposition of material thereon and showing the position of a hold-down finger.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the platen arrangement showing a number of variants of the form of matrix elements mounted thereon, and

Figure 7 is a cross section of Figure 6 taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6, showingthe press bed plate and a supporting sheet upon which a deposit has been made.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated ing plate 17 upon which press platen 18 is mounted.

Press platen 18 is mounted parallel with but in space relation to supporting plate 17 by .means of spacer bolts 19. It will thus be noted that an arrangement is provided wherein a stationary horizontal bed plate is suitably supported in a frame, and that said frame also carries a horizontal press platen adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from said stationary horizontal bed plate by means of a reciprocating arbor. The means for reciprocating the arbor 16 are not shown, in that such means may be of conventional type. It will also be understood that the invention may be practiced with other suitable forms of press structures wherein a pair of horizontal plates are arranged for movement toward and away from each other. The means for depositing coating material upon a supporting surface or sheet are mounted upon the lower or operative face of platen 18. These means are more particularly illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. As shown in'said figures, platen 18 is comprised of a plate which may be formed of steel or other suitable material and is provided with a plurality of perforations 20 at closely spaced intervals. The perforations are so dimensioned and arranged so as to receive the stem 21 of each of the matrix elements designated generally by the numeral 22. The matrix elements 22 are similar in structure and differ only in the configuration of their impression surfaces thus making possible variety of impressions or depositions which the instant device is adapted to produce. Each of said matrix elements 22 is comprised of an impression or face plate 23 provided with asubstantially centrally disposed opening 24 within which matrix stem 21 issecured as by means of a force fit or any other suitable manner. The upper portion of the matrix stem 21 is threaded as shown at 25 to receive nut 26. It will thus be seen that the matrix elements may be mounted in any one of the perforations 20 by inserting stem 21 therethrough. The stem so inserted is secured in position by means of nut 26; a washer 27 being interposed between the securing nut and the upper surface of platen 18.

The interior of matrix stem 21 is hollow and is provided with a cylindrical bore 32 extending therethrough along its longitudinal axis. The lower end of said matrix stem 21 has mounted therein a valve 28 which may be of conventional type adapted to be spring biased to closed position and to be opened by means of the operation of a valve stem 29 when the operating end of said valve is pressed inwardly toward the body of the valve. The valve is mounted in the cylindrical bore of stem 21 by means of a screw threaded plug 30 and may be similar in structure to that shown and described in my Patent Number 2,591,941 heretofore. Such valves being commercially available will therefore not be described in further detail.

As will be noted in Figures 4 and 7, the lower end of the valve stem 29 extends beyond the contact face of the operative surface 31 on impression or face plate 23 of: the matrix element 22. When pressed upwardly and toward the body of the valve, stem 29 raises the valve member from its seat against the biasing action of a spring, thereby opening the valve and permitting the passage of a fluid from cylindrical bore 32 through the valve body from whence it emerges to the operative surface 31 of face. or: impression plate 23;

The upper end of stem 21 of each matrix element is connected to a tube or liquid. conduit 33- by means. of a coupling 34. The conduit 33 is in turn connected to a suitable source of fluid supply such as a reservoir or tank. The source of fluid supply is not shown and does not comprise part of the, instant invention. Such reservoir or tank is adapted to contain a supply of the fluid to be deposited and is arranged to apply suitable pressure to the fluid to force it through the. conduit 33, stem 21, valve 28 and then to the operative surface of face or impression plate 23 upon the operation of the valve by means of valve stem 29. A reservoir or tank arrangement for such fluid supply is shown and described in my above mentioned patent.

Each of. matrix elements 22 is provided with a cavity or depression 35 in the operative surface thereof. It will be noted that the matrix elements. may be of a wide variety of shapes and that the depression is outlined by the circumferential rim 36 which determines the configuration and thickness of the impression or deposit which will be made by the matrix element. As may be seen from Figures 4, 5 and 7 the deposit of material upon a supporting surface such as a sheet of paper, plastic ceramic, metal or wood is accomplished by the movement of press platen 18 toward bed plate 12 so that the material or supporting surface upon which the deposit is to be made and which is, positioned upon bed plate 12 is contacted by the operative face of the matrix element. Thus as platen 18, approachesbed plate 12 upon which a supporting surface or sheet 3.7 such as paper, is positioned for receiving the deposit, stem 29 of valve 21 contacts the sheet 37 as operative face of the matrix meets the sheet and thus the valve is opened as such contact is completed thereby releasing the fluid stem 21 and permitting it to flow and fill, cavity or depression 35. When the. depres sion has been filled, platen 18 is raised and simultaneously with the upward movement of said platen, valve stem 29 closes the valve by reason of the biasing action of the spring thus shutting off further fluid flow as soon as contact between the operative surface of the matrix and sheet 37 is broken. The foregoing operation is in all respects similar to that of the device disclosed in my aforementioned patent.

It will be noted from the foregoing that each matrix element provides an individual shape or configuration for a deposit to be made and that the matrix may be mounted in any one of, perforations 20 in the platen and that matrices may be interchanged one with the other and variously oriented upon the face of the platen. Matrices may be mounted or removed from the platen or relocated thereon by simply opening the conduit coupling and removing nut 26. Thus. a very flexible arrangement is provided for creating a wide variety of patterns of arrangements using a limited number of matrix elements and it is no longer necessary to provide a complete substitute plate in changing such patterns, designs, colors or arrangements. Thus, for example, if it is desired to deposit a series of sample colors upon a color card, such as is generally utilized in paint industry, the arrangement of the sample color blocks may be such as is shown by the arrangement of the matrices in Figure 3. It will be understood that each matrix will deposit a particular color block or area of the same configuration as the matrix depression and that each matrix may deposit a different selected color. It is obvious that the arrangement of blocks may be readily changed or altered, the infinite variety of patterns is. thus available utilizing a limited numberv of matrix elements which may be substituted for one another or rearranged as desired.

Press platen 18 is additionally provided with a plural' ity of hold-down fingers 38 which serves to maintain the paper 37 or other supporting surface upon which the deposit is made, in position immediately prior to, during and after the impression. Hold-down fingers 38 comprise an enlarged head portion 39 from which a stem 40 of reduced diameter extends. There is thus formed a shoulder 41 at the juncture of stem 40 with head 39. Stem 40 is so dimensioned as to be freely slidable within perforations 20 formed in press platen 18. The lower end of stem 40 is cut away to form a semi-cylindrical terminal portion 42. The semi-cylindrical portion 42 of the lower end of the stem is of greater length than the thickness of the matrix elements 22 whereby the end face 43 extends below the operative surface of the matrix as well as the end of the operating, stem 29 of valve 28. It will thus be seen that when the press platen is reciprocated toward the bed plate the end surface 43 of the stem will come into contact with the surface upon which the deposition is to be made and hold it in position until the press platen is sufiiciently lowered so that contact is made between the operative surfaces of the matrix elements and the supporting surface upon which the deposit is to be made. Conversely when the press platen is raised at the end of an impression the lower end of the stem will dwell against the supporting surface or paper 37 upon which the deposit has been made thereby assuring a clean cut separation between the matrix elements and the paper and preventing any adhesion which might otherwise occur between these parts. The enlarged upper. head portion of the hold-down finger provides. a suflicient weight to accomplish this separation as well as to return the finger to its normal extended position upon the. upward movement of the press platen. The shoulder 41 serves as an abutment surface limiting the extension of the finger below the operative face of the matrix elements. As heretofore indicated the stem 40 of the. holddown. fingers is freely slidable within perforations 20 and may be positioned in any one of them and any number of such fingers may be employed to surround the. circumferential rim of the matrix elements.- The semi.- cylindrical lower end 42 of' the stem permits it to be located. as close as possible to the circumferential rim of a matrix element particularly when the rim bisects a perforation as is the case with the rectangular matrix elements illustrated in Figure 3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is here provided a very simple, effective and flexible arrangement for depositing liquids in various configuration and in various arrangements of basic elements andv colors with a high degree of economy. The assembly permits. the arrangement and rearrangement of design elements as Well as the substitution of forms in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of expense.

I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It will beapparent, however,. that this invention is, not limited to this embodiment and. that many changes, additions and modifications can be made in connection therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. as herein. disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a device for depositing a liquid upona surface, a platen reciprocable toward and away from the surface to be treated, said platen being provided with a plurality. of perforations therethrough, a plurality of matrix elements, each of said elements being comprised of a face plate provided with a depression on the operative surface thereof representing the.desired configuration of the deposit to be made, a stem extending from the body of said face plate. receivable in any of. said. perforations. in the platen, meansv for removably securing said stem within the selected perforation, said stem being provided with a longitudinal bore therethrough whereby a liquid to be deposited may be fed through saidstem to the: operative surface of said matrix element in order to form the desired deposit at the selected location on said surface.

2. In a device for depositing a liquid upon a surface, a. platen reciprocable toward and away from the surface to be treated, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a plurality of matrix elements, each of said elements being comprised of a face plate provided with a depression on the operative surface thereof representing the desired configuration of the deposit to be made, a stem extending from the body of each of said face plates receivable in selected perforations in the platen, means for removably securing said stem within the selected perforation, whereby a plurality of said matrix elements may be mounted on said platen to form a variety of combinations of configurations of material to be deposited, each of said stems being provided with a longitudinal bore therethrough whereby a liquid to be deposited may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said matrix element in order to form the desired deposit at a selected location on said surface.

3. In a device for depositing a liquid upon a surface, a platen reciprocable toward and away from the surface to be treated, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a plurality of matrix elements, each of said elements being comprised of a face plate provided with a depression on the operative surface thereof representing the desired configuration of the deposit to be made, a stem extending from the body of said face plate receivable in any of said perforations in the platen, means for removably securing said stem within the selected perforation, said stem being provided with a longitudinal bore therethrough whereby a liquid to be deposited may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said matrix element in order to form the tie sired deposit at a selected location on said surface, valve means located withinthe bore of said stem to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

4. In a device for depositing a liquid upon a surface, a platen reciprocable toward and away from the surface to be treated, said platenbeing provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a plurality of matrix elements, each of said elements being comprised of a face plate provided with a depression on the operative surface thereof representing the desired configuration of the deposit to be made, a stem extending from the body of said face plate receivable in any of said perforations in the platen, means for removably securing said stem within the selected perforation, said stem being provided with a longitudinal bore therethrough whereby a liquid to be deposited may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said matrix element in order to form the desired deposit at a selected location on said surface, valve means located within the bore of said stem to control the flow of liquid therethrough, said means being provided with an operating member extending beyond the operative surface of said matrix element whereby said valve is caused to be actuated upon contact with the surface upon which the deposit is to be made.

5. In a device for depositing a liquid in a predetermined pattern of configurations upon a supporting surface including a platen reciprocable toward and away from said surface, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a matrix element mountable in any one of said perforations, said matrix element comprising a face plate provided with a depressed area conforming to the desired configuration of the deposited material, a transverse opening provided through the body of said face plate, a stem extending from said face plate, said stem being provided with an axial bore in registration with said opening, said stem being receivable in any selected perforation, means for securing said stem to said platen for reciprocation therewith.

6. In a device for depositing a liquid in a predetermined pattern of configurations upon a supporting surface including a platen reciprocable toward and away from said surface, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a matrix element mountable in any one of said perforations, said matrix element comprising a face plate provided with a depressed area conforming to the desired configuration of the deposited material, a transverse opening provided through the body of said face plate, a stem extending from said face plate, said stem being provided with an axial bore in registration with said opening, said stem being receivable in any selected perforation, means for securing said stem to said platen for reciprocation therewith said stem being provided with a threaded extremity, a nut carried by said threaded extremity for securing said stem in positic-n, whereby a liquid may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said matrix, valve means positioned within said bore and opening for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough.

7. In a device for depositing a liquid in a predetermined pattern of configurations upon a supporting surface including a platen reciprocable toward and away from said surface, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations therethrough, a matrix element adapted to be mounted in any one of said perforations, said matrix element comprising a face plate provided with a depressed area conforming to the desired configuration of the deposited material, a transverse opening provided through the body of said face plate, a stem extending from said face plate, said stem being provided with an axial bore in registration with said opening, said stem being receivable in any perforation, means for securing said stem to said platen for reciprocation therewith, whereby a liquid may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said matrix, valve means carried by said matrix and positioned within said stem for controlling the liquid flow therethrough, a valve operating member extending from said valve and beyond the operative surface of said matrix, said valve operating member being adapted, upon the reciprocation of said platen, to contact said surface to thereby open and close said valve upon each reciprocation of said platen.

8. A matrix element adapted to be received in the perforation of a press platen for depositing a liquid material upon a supporting surface, comprising a face plate having an operative surface provided with a depressed area conforming to the configuration of the material to be deposited thereby, said face plate being provided with a transverse opening therethrough, a stem mounted on said plate and within said opening extending at right angles thereto, said stem being provided with an axial bore and being receivable in and to extend through said press platen, means for securing said stem against movement with respect to said platen, the free end of said stem being adapted to be connected to liquid feed conduit means whereby the liquid to be deposited may be fed through said stem to the operative surface of said face plate, valve means positioned within said stem for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

9. In a device for depositing a liquid upon a supporting surface, a platen reciprocable toward and away from the surface to be treated, a plurality of matrix elements, said platen being provided with a plurality of perforations extending therethrough, said matrix elements being received in said perforations, said matrix elements including a face plate for contacting said surface during the deposition of material thereon, a hold-down finger adapted to contact said surface during such deposition comprising a stern adapted to be received within any one of said perforations for free reciprocable movement therein, said stem including a terminal portion extending beyond said matrix element whereby said hold-down finger contacts said surface immediately prior to, during and immediately after such deposition has been accomplished.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein saidstem References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reid Sept. 10, 1889 ingersoll June 12, 1894 Mowbray Oct. 15, 1918 Cathey Mar. 2, 1943 Innerfield Apr. 18, 1952 

